Box Score WINTER HAVEN -- The biggest swing of
Zach Lester's young college baseball career highlighted a five-run sixth inning on Thursday as Polk State Baseball rallied past Miami Dade College, 8-3.
The Eagles (13-10, 5-2 Citrus Conference play) were on the short end of a 3-1 score as the contest at Bing Tyus Yard shifted to the bottom of the sixth inning. After two walks and an
Andy Schroeder single loaded the bases,
Kenay Acevedo scored on a wild pitch, which also moved two runners into scoring position. With one out, first base open, and the ever-dangerous
Liam O'Neil at the plate, Miami Dade elected to issue an intentional walk to reload the bases and pitch to Lester.
That proved to be a mistake.
On a 1-0 pitch from Jeffred Fermin, Lester went to the deepest part of the park, planting a fastball over the centerfield wall for the go-ahead grand slam. Lester's first career blast gave the Eagles a 6-3 lead -- their first of the game -- and the pitching staff did the rest.
Starter
JT Long went seven strong innings for Polk State, allowing three runs, two earned, on six hits while adding to his FCSAA-leading strikeout total with nine punch-outs.
Aiden Alvarez and
Wade Johnson followed with scoreless innings to seal the deal.
Polk State would add a pair of insurance runs in the eighth on an RBI single from Lester and a bases-loaded walk to
Josh Cruz. Lester's five RBIs was a career-high. Schroeder,
Kustarr Webb,
Simon Scharff, and Lester each finished with two hits.
Miami Dade got the scoring started with a run in the third. Long started the day with back-to-back 1-2-3 innings, but after a hit batter and a pitch that rolled to the backstop, David Zamora singled home the game's first run on the Sharks' first hit of the day.
The teams traded runs in the fourth. Michael Petite doubled home the game's second run for Miami Dade with nobody out, but Long was able to get out of the inning without further damage. Webb doubled down the third-base line to open the bottom half before scoring on a wild pitch. Adrian Poviones' RBI double in the sixth extended the Miami Dade lead to 3-1 before the Eagles answered with the big bottom half.
Now winners of three straight, Polk State can clinch a third straight Citrus Conference series victory on Saturday by taking at least one game of the doubleheader against the Sharks in Miami. Game times are scheduled for 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.
